The rival appears

Hiro stumbled through the dense forest of the school grounds, his body wracked with the telltale signs of a rising fever. Each step felt like a monumental effort, his limbs heavy and unresponsive as he pushed himself forward. The summer heat pressed down on him like a physical weight, the air thick and sticky with humidity.

He paused for a moment, leaning heavily against the rough bark of a nearby tree. His chest heaved with the effort of drawing breath, his lungs burning with each ragged gasp. "Damn it," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can't overdo it. I feel like I'm going to puke... and shit myself at the same time."

Suddenly, a bullet ricocheted off the tree trunk, mere inches from Hiro's head. The projectile was imbued with cursed energy, but it was only a blank, designed to startle rather than kill. Hiro's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of the shooter.

Mai stood a few feet away, her gun still smoking as she lowered it to her side. A smirk played on her lips, her eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and disdain. "Maki was right," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You really are a hard-headed idiot."

Hiro groaned, his head falling back against the tree trunk. "I don't have the energy to deal with your bullshit right now," he said, his voice strained with exhaustion. "Fuck off, or I swear I'll hit you with a goddamn Blue Lightning."

Mai's smirk widened, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Ooh, I'm so scared," she said, her voice filled with mock terror. "But in your current state, I don't think you're in any condition to be making threats."

Hiro sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "You're right," he said, his voice filled with a weary resignation. "I think I'll just take a nap."

As if on cue, Maki emerged from the trees, her expression one of mild annoyance. "Sleep it off," she said, her voice filled with a fond exasperation. "I'll take care of the trash."

Mai's face twisted with anger, her eyes flashing with indignation. "How long are you going to keep being such a pain in the ass?" she snapped, her voice filled with a seething resentment.

In the control room, Gojo watched the scene unfold on the monitors, his lips twitching with barely contained laughter. "I can't believe Hiro actually fell asleep," he said, his voice filled with a mix of amusement and disbelief.

Shoko, her brow furrowed with concern, turned to Gojo. "Shouldn't we go get him?" she asked, her voice filled with a maternal worry.

Gojo waved his hand dismissively, his smile never wavering. "Don't worry about it," he said, his voice filled with a casual confidence. "Our boy Hiro just needs a little power nap. He'll be fine."

Principal Yaga, his expression one of mild concern, asked, "Are you sure he's alright?"

Mei Mei, her eyes sparkling with interest, said, "This kid is just too much fun."

And so, time passed, the day wearing on as the students of Kyoto and Tokyo clashed in a series of brutal battles. Itadori found himself locked in combat with Aoi Todo, their fists and feet flying in a deadly dance of skill and power. Fushiguro, meanwhile, faced off against Kamo, their cursed techniques colliding in a dazzling display of blood and shadow.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and red, Hiro slowly opened his eyes. He stretched his arms above his head, his joints popping with the movement. "The fever hasn't gone away," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. "But at least I feel a little better."

He pushed himself to his feet, swaying slightly as a wave of dizziness washed over him. "Ugh, I probably shouldn't have participated today," he said, his voice filled with a rueful regret. "My body feels so drained. That fight with Mechamaru only made my condition worse, even though I tried to end it quickly."

Suddenly, Hiro felt a prickle of unease run down his spine. He sensed two immensely powerful presences nearby, their cursed energy pulsing like a living thing. He looked up, his eyes widening as he caught sight of a strange, translucent veil stretching across the sky. It was an unusual sight, eerie and unsettling in the fading light of day.

"Something's not right," Hiro muttered, his voice filled with a growing sense of dread.

He enveloped his body in a crackling aura of electricity, his cursed technique flaring to life as he leaped from tree to tree. The sounds of battle grew louder as he approached, the clash of cursed energy and the cries of pain and fury filling the air.

Hiro burst through the treeline, landing in a shallow river. The water rippled around his feet, the current slow and lazy in the oppressive heat of the summer evening. The air was heavy and still, the humidity pressing down on him like a physical weight.

Before him, Maki and Fushiguro stood locked in battle with a curse, its eyes obscured by a tangle of twisted branches. Hiro recognized it instantly - it was the same curse that had stolen Jogo's severed head, the one called Hanami.

Without hesitation, Hiro charged forward, his fist enveloped in the crackling blue energy of his Blue Lightning. He slammed his fist into Hanami's body, sending the curse flying backwards, its form crashing through the trees and underbrush.

Hiro landed beside Maki and Fushiguro, his chest heaving with exertion. "The cavalry has arrived," he said, his voice strained with the effort of hiding his exhaustion.

Maki, her eyes wide with surprise, said, "This thing and the veil appeared out of nowhere."

Hiro turned to Hanami, his lips curling into a mocking sneer. "Tell me, plant curse," he said, his voice filled with a taunting arrogance. "Where's your friend? The volcano head?"

Hanami remained silent, but Hiro could sense the curse's thoughts, could feel the flicker of fear and uncertainty in its cursed energy. "Hiro Takashi," Hanami thought, its mental voice filled with a quiet dread. "Geto warned me to be careful around him."

Hiro grinned, his eyes sparkling with a feverish light. "Not going to talk, huh?" he said, his voice filled with a false bravado. Inside, he wanted nothing more than to lie down, to let his body rest and recover. But he couldn't show weakness, not now, not in front of his friends and enemies.

Fushiguro, his brow furrowed with concern, asked, "Are you alright, senpai?"

Hiro waved his hand dismissively, his smile never wavering. "Don't worry about it," he said, his voice filled with a forced casual.

As Hiro stood facing Hanami, his body tense and ready for battle, a figure emerged from the trees. The man was tall and imposing, his dark hair slicked back perfectly, not a strand out of place. His eyes, a piercing crimson, seemed to glow with an inner fire, their intensity matched only by the cold, calculating expression on his youthful face.

He was dressed impeccably, his suit tailored to perfection, the fabric clinging to his lean, muscular frame. The uniform was unmistakable - the distinctive attire of the American jujutsu sorcerers.

Hiro's eyes widened in shock, his breath catching in his throat as he recognized the man. "What are you doing here, Hanzo?" he asked, his voice filled with a mixture of surprise and dread.

Maki, her gaze darting between Hiro and the newcomer, asked, "Who is he?"

Hiro, his jaw clenched tight, replied, "The cousin I told you about. Momo's brother."

Hanzo smiled, the gesture cold and mirthless. He ran a hand through his hair, the movement smooth and practiced, as if he had done it a thousand times before. When he spoke, his voice was deep and rich, each word carefully measured and weighted with meaning.

"Unfortunately, I've only come to contain you," he said, his tone filled with a mocking pity. "It seems you've become quite the nuisance, dear cousin. But don't worry, I'm here to take care of it."

Hiro barked out a laugh, the sound harsh and brittle in the tense silence of the forest. "Why am I not surprised that the Miller family is working with curses?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Hanzo's smile widened, his eyes glinting with a cruel amusement. "Everything has a purpose, Hiro," he said, his voice filled with a condescending patience. "One that you wouldn't understand. You always were a bit slow on the uptake."

He turned to Hanami, his expression shifting to one of cool command. "I'll handle this, Hanami," he said, his voice brooking no argument. "I saw two other interesting sorcerers earlier. One of them is Sukuna's vessel. Go after them."

Hanami nodded, its branched eyes swiveling to fix on Hanzo. With a single, powerful leap, the curse vanished into the trees, leaving Hiro and his cousin alone in the clearing.

Hanzo smiled, his expression one of cruel amusement as he took in Hiro's haggard appearance. "Hiro, you look a bit off. Are you sick?" he asked, his voice dripping with false concern.

Hiro grimaced, his jaw clenching with the effort of staying upright. "That's good, isn't it?" he said, his voice strained with pain and exhaustion. "It evens the playing field a bit."

Hanzo sighed, his shoulders rising and falling in a gesture of mock disappointment. "It would be quite boring to simply knock you out," he said, his tone filled with a patronizing pity. "I want to see how much stronger you've become."

Hiro clicked his tongue, his eyes narrowing with determination. He turned to Maki and Fushiguro, his expression serious and unyielding. "Get out of here, both of you," he said, his voice brooking no argument.

Fushiguro, his brow furrowed with concern, shook his head. "No way," he said, his voice filled with a stubborn resolve.

Maki, her eyes flashing with anger, added, "You're too weak to face him alone."

Hiro's gaze swept over their battered and bleeding forms, taking in the extent of their injuries. "Look at yourselves," he said, his voice soft but firm. "You can barely stand. You'll only get in the way."

Maki opened her mouth to protest, but something in Hiro's expression stopped her. For the first time, he looked at her with a seriousness and intensity that she had never seen before. "Just do as I say," he said, his voice filled with a quiet authority.

Maki swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. She nodded, her teeth clenching with frustration. "Don't you dare die, you idiot," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I'll go get Gojo."

Hiro nodded, his eyes never leaving Hanzo's smirking face. Fushiguro and Maki turned and fled, their footsteps fading into the distance as they disappeared into the trees.

Hiro watched them go, his heart heavy with worry and fear. He turned back to Hanzo, his expression one of wry amusement. "You're just going to let them go like that?" he asked, his voice filled with a mocking disbelief.

Hanzo shrugged, his smile widening. "They pose no threat," he said, his voice filled with a casual disdain. "Besides, my mission is to stop you."

Hiro's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. "What are you planning?" he asked, his voice filled with a growing sense of unease.

Hanzo's smile turned predatory, his eyes glinting with a malevolent light. "Do you want to talk, or do you want to fight?" he asked, his voice filled with a sadistic anticipation.

Hiro grinned, his own smile a mirror of Hanzo's. "Fight," he said, his voice filled with a reckless courage.

Hanzo's grin widened, his teeth flashing in the fading light. "Perfect," he said, his voice filled with a savage joy. "But first, let's take care of that stomachache of yours."

Without warning, Hanzo moved, his speed so great that Hiro barely had time to register his presence before it was too late. Hiro's eyes widened in shock and pain as Hanzo's hand, wreathed in cursed energy, plunged into his stomach, tearing through flesh and muscle with sickening ease.

Hiro collapsed to the ground, his breathing ragged and shallow as he clutched at the gaping wound in his abdomen. Hanzo stood over him, his hand dripping with blood and viscera as he crushed Hiro's stomach in his fist.

Hiro could feel his life slipping away, his vision growing dim and hazy as the pain consumed him. But before he could succumb to the darkness, Hanzo struck again, his fist slamming into Hiro's head with brutal force.

Hiro felt something inside his skull shatter, the bones of his face crunching and splintering under the impact. Blood poured from his nose and mouth, his brain swelling with the force of the internal hemorrhage.

Hanzo grinned, his expression one of twisted satisfaction. "Well then, time for Doctor Hanzo to work his magic," he said, his voice filled with a mocking sweetness.

He placed his hands on Hiro's broken body, his fingers glowing with the power of his cursed technique. Slowly, painfully, Hiro's stomach began to regenerate, the torn and shredded flesh knitting back together as Hanzo's power flowed through him.

His brain, too, began to heal, the swelling and bleeding subsiding as the damage was undone. Hiro coughed, his lungs burning with the effort of drawing breath as he felt the life returning to his body.

Hanzo smiled, his expression one of cruel satisfaction. "I ripped out your stomach, so the infection should be gone now," he said, his voice filled with a mocking pity. "I also damaged your brain and restored it to normal, so it should stop thinking it's sick."

Hiro stared at his cousin in stunned disbelief, his mind reeling with the implications of what had just happened. The sheer speed and strength of Hanzo's attack had been breathtaking, far beyond anything Hiro had ever experienced before.

But even more shocking was Hanzo's mastery of the reverse cursed technique, his ability to use it on others at such a high level. As far as Hiro knew, only Shoko and Yuta were capable of such a feat, and even then, perhaps not to the same extent as Hanzo.

Hiro pushed himself to his feet, his body shaking with the effort. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he faced his cousin, his expression one of grim determination. "I'm not sure that's how it works," he said, his voice filled with a wry humor.

But even as he spoke, Hiro could feel the change in his body, the absence of the sickness and pain that had plagued him for so long. He clenched his fist, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he felt the power surging through him.

"But I do feel better," he said, his voice filled with a newfound strength and confidence.

Hanzo grinned, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Good," he said, his voice filled with a savage joy. "Give me your best shot."

Hiro's body crackled with electricity, the power of his cursed technique flowing through him like a raging river. "I'll return the favor," he said, his voice filled with a cold determination.

He moved, his speed so great that even Hanzo was caught off guard. Hiro's fist slammed into his cousin's stomach, driving the air from his lungs and sending him flying backwards.

Hiro followed, his body a blur of motion as he caught up to Hanzo's falling form. His fingers extended, red lightning crackling between them as he formed a ball of crackling energy.

"Red Lightning," he said, his voice barely above a whisper as he hurled the attack at Hanzo.

The ball of energy slammed into Hanzo's body, sending him careening in the opposite direction. He crashed through the trees, his body smashing through trunks and branches with sickening force.

Hanzo staggered to his feet, his clothes torn and bloody, his mouth filled with the coppery taste of his own blood. But even as he rose, he laughed, his eyes filled with a manic glee.

"Have you forgotten my technique, dear cousin?" he asked, his voice filled with a mocking pity. "The more damage I take, the stronger my blows and attacks become. The faster and more powerful I grow."

Hiro grinned, his expression one of reckless confidence. "I know," he said, his voice filled with a savage joy. "But you won't be able to touch me."

He moved again, his speed so great that Hanzo could barely track his movements. One, two, three, four blows landed in rapid succession, each one driving Hanzo further back, his body battered and broken by the force of Hiro's attacks.

Hiro appeared above him, his fist slamming into Hanzo's stomach once more, sending him hurtling towards the ground. From the sky, Hiro extended his palm, blue lightning crackling between his fingers.

"Blue Lightning," he said, his voice filled with a cold determination as he hurled the attack at Hanzo.

The ball of blue energy slammed into Hanzo's prone form, the explosion ripping through the forest with a deafening roar. Trees, rocks, and debris were pulled towards the epicenter of the blast, drawn by the magnetic force of Hiro's technique.

Hiro landed, his hands in his pockets and a smile on his face as he watched the smoke and dust clear. But from the depths of the destruction, a figure emerged, its form battered and broken but still standing.

Hanzo, his leg missing and his right hand gone, his body charred and blackened by the force of Hiro's attack, leaned heavily against a massive boulder that had been drawn towards the blast. But even as he stood there, his body broken and bleeding, he smiled, his eyes filled with a manic glee.

He began to heal himself, his reverse cursed technique knitting flesh and bone back together, restoring his body to its former strength. Hiro watched, his eyes wide with disbelief as he took in the extent of Hanzo's power.

"You're a tough one," Hiro said, his voice filled with a grudging respect. "Really tough."

He began to form whips of crackling electricity around his wrists, the energy dancing and swirling as he moved. "You'll make a good punching bag," he said, his voice filled with a savage joy.

Hiro lashed out with the whips, their crackling lengths wrapping around Hanzo's legs and lifting him into the air. He spun, his body a blur of motion as he slammed Hanzo into the trees, his cousin's body crashing through trunks and branches with sickening force.

Hiro released the whips, their lengths coiling around Hanzo's body and sending jolts of electricity coursing through him. He stretched out his fingers, red lightning crackling between them once more.

"Red Lightning," he said, his voice filled with a cold determination as he hurled the attack at Hanzo.

The ball of energy slammed into Hanzo's chest, ripping a hole through his body and sending him flying backwards once more. Hiro watched, his breathing ragged and shallow as he took in the extent of the damage he had inflicted.

But even as he watched, the hole in Hanzo's chest began to close, the flesh and bone knitting back together as his reverse cursed technique took hold once more.

Hiro's eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth falling open in shock. "How advanced is that technique of yours?" he asked, his voice filled with a growing sense of unease.

Hanzo smiled, his eyes flashing with a malevolent light. "Quite advanced," he said, his voice filled with a mocking pity.

Hiro lunged forward, his fists crackling with electricity as he rained blows down upon Hanzo's torso. Hanzo retaliated with a powerful hook, but Hiro ducked beneath the attack, his own fist connecting with Hanzo's chin in a devastating uppercut. Sparks flew from the point of impact, and Hanzo could feel his brain rattling inside his skull.

Suddenly, the sound of a bell rang out, its deep, sonorous tones echoing through the forest like the tolling of a distant church. Hanzo smiled, his eyes glinting with a malevolent light. "It seems your luck has run out," he said, his voice filled with a mocking pity.

Hiro, his jaw set with determination, grabbed Hanzo's arms, his fingers digging into his cousin's flesh as he unleashed a torrent of electricity into his body. Hiro screamed with the effort, his voice raw and primal as he poured every ounce of his power into the attack, desperate to fry Hanzo's brain and end the fight once and for all.

But Hanzo merely smiled, his eyes wide and manic as he opened his mouth. A cannon of cursed energy erupted from his throat, the blast tearing through the air with a deafening roar. Hiro barely managed to dodge, his body twisting to the side as the attack passed mere inches from his head.

Hanzo's smile widened, his teeth flashing in the fading light. "When the first bell tolls, it means I can use my full reserve of cursed energy," he said, his voice filled with a savage joy.

Hiro, his eyes narrowing with determination, lunged forward once more, his knee slamming into Hanzo's jaw with bone-crushing force. He followed up with a spinning kick, his foot connecting with Hanzo's chest and sending him staggering backwards.

Another bell tolled, its sound mixing with the ringing in Hanzo's ears. He grinned, his expression one of manic glee. "When the second bell tolls, it means my physical abilities increase," he said, his voice filled with a cruel anticipation.

Hanzo launched himself at Hiro, his speed and strength suddenly far greater than before. Hiro barely managed to dodge the attack, his body twisting and contorting as he desperately tried to avoid his cousin's blows.

A third bell tolled, its sound filling the air with a sense of finality and dread. Hanzo's smile turned predatory, his eyes flashing with a malevolent light. "And with the third bell, I adapt," he said, his voice filled with a mocking pity.

Hiro, his body crackling with electricity, pushed himself to the limit, his speed and agility far beyond anything he had ever achieved before. But it wasn't enough. Hanzo, his body moving with a fluid grace that defied belief, saw through Hiro's movements, his fist slamming into his cousin's body with a force that shook the very earth itself.

The blow was devastating, a culmination of all the damage Hanzo had received throughout the fight. Every ounce of pain and suffering that Hiro had inflicted upon him was returned tenfold, the cursed energy that had been building within Hanzo's body released in a single, cataclysmic strike.

Hiro, his arm shattered and his body broken, was sent flying backwards, his form crashing through trees and underbrush with sickening force. He slammed into the ground, his body skidding and tumbling across the rough terrain before finally coming to a stop in a shallow crater.

He lay there, his chest heaving with the effort of drawing breath, his body wracked with pain and exhaustion. How had Hanzo become so fast, so strong? It defied belief, defied the very laws of nature itself.

Hanzo, his body regenerating with each passing second, walked towards the crater, his expression one of cruel amusement. "I didn't become faster," he said, his voice filled with a mocking pity. "I simply adapted to your rhythm. You know that shikigami, Mahoraga? My technique turned out to be something similar."

Hiro, his jaw clenched with pain and determination, pushed himself to his feet, his body screaming in protest with every movement. He gathered his remaining strength, his hand crackling with the power of his Blue Lightning as he prepared to unleash one final attack.

The ball of blue energy formed in his palm, its crackling surface pulsing with barely contained power. Hiro, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination, hurled the attack at Hanzo, his voice raw and primal as he screamed with the effort.

But Hanzo merely smiled, his mouth opening wide as another cannon of cursed energy erupted from his throat. The blast tore through Hiro's Blue Lightning like paper, its power far greater than anything Hiro could muster in his weakened state.

The energy slammed into Hiro's body, the explosion ripping through the forest with a deafening roar. Hiro was sent flying backwards once more, his body broken and charred by the force of the blast.

He lay there, his consciousness fading as he teetered on the brink of death. Was this the end? Was this how he would die, defeated and broken at the hands of his own cousin?

Hanzo, his expression one of cruel satisfaction, walked towards the crater, his feet crunching on the shattered remnants of Hiro's Blue Lightning. He laughed, the sound harsh and grating in the stillness of the forest.

"You've become strong, cousin," he said, his voice filled with a mocking pity. "If I hadn't discovered this improvement to my technique, you might have beaten me. I suppose I have that strange monk to thank for it."

He looked down at Hiro's broken form, his eyes filled with a cold disdain. "It's a shame that, due to the binding pact that stupid machine made me take, I can't kill you," he said, his voice filled with a cruel regret.

Hanzo knelt beside Hiro, his hand glowing with the power of his reverse cursed technique as he placed it upon his cousin's chest. Hiro felt the life returning to his body, his wounds knitting back together as Hanzo's power flowed through him.

But even as his body healed, Hiro knew that he was still too weak to stand, too broken to continue the fight. He lay there, his chest heaving with the effort of drawing breath, his mind racing with the implications of Hanzo's words.

Hanzo, his gaze drifting upwards, noticed that the veil that had covered the sky had disappeared. There, hovering in the air above them, was Gojo Satoru, his expression unreadable behind his blindfold.

Hanzo smiled, his eyes glinting with a malevolent light. "I wonder," he said, his voice filled with a cruel anticipation, "if I could kill Gojo? It would be interesting to try, but I can't do it now."

He looked back down at Hiro, his expression one of mocking pity. "Become stronger, cousin, and let's have another fun battle. I'll see you very soon."

With that, Hanzo turned and walked away, his hands sliding into his pockets as he disappeared into the trees. "Oh, I almost forgot," he called back over his shoulder, his voice filled with a casual cruelty. "Say hello to my sister for me."

Hiro, his body shaking with pain and exhaustion, could only watch as Hanzo vanished into the forest, his mind racing with questions and doubts. When had his cousin become so powerful, so utterly beyond anything Hiro had ever faced before?

He pushed himself to his feet, his legs trembling with the effort. But even as he rose, he fell to his knees once more, his body too weak to support his weight. He knelt there, his chest heaving with each ragged breath, his fists clenched with rage and frustration.

With a scream of anger and despair, Hiro slammed his fist into the ground, the impact sending shockwaves of pain racing up his arm. But he didn't care. All he could feel was the burning shame of defeat, the bitter sting of his own weakness and inadequacy.

He had failed, had been utterly outmatched by his cousin's power and skill. And now, as he knelt there in the shattered remains of his pride and confidence, he knew that he had a long way to go before he could face Hanzo again.

Gojo descended from the sky, his smile never wavering as he touched down beside Hiro's battered and broken form. "What's the matter, my golden boy?" he asked, his voice filled with a teasing warmth. "Did you get your ass kicked again?"

He extended his hand, offering to help Hiro to his feet. But Hiro, his pride wounded and his ego bruised, swatted Gojo's hand away, his eyes flashing with a fierce determination as he pushed himself upright.

Gojo, his expression turning serious, said, "It seems like something big is about to happen. That sorcerer... he was the cousin you told me about, right? The one who's a special grade without being registered."

Hiro nodded, his jaw clenching with the effort of staying on his feet. "Yeah," he said, his voice rough with pain and exhaustion. "But he's gotten much, much stronger. I thought I had surpassed him a long time ago, but I was wrong."

Gojo's smile returned, his eyes sparkling with amusement behind his blindfold. "Oh, my dear Hiro," he said, his voice filled with a fond exasperation. "At least that stomachache of yours got cured in the process."

Hiro, his legs trembling with each step, began to walk, his movements slow and labored. Gojo fell into step beside him, his presence a comforting warmth at Hiro's side.

"His technique," Hiro said, his voice low and strained, "it used to be about endurance. He could take damage and then return it, either in a single powerful blow or in a series of strikes, like he was accumulating the damage he received. That's how it was in the beginning, but now... it's like he adapts. To my techniques, my speed, my attacks... to everything."

Gojo nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It seems like he's a sorcerer to keep an eye on," he said, his voice filled with a quiet intensity. "He could be a real problem."

Hiro, his eyes narrowing with determination, said, "You need to talk to the higher-ups. The Miller family is involved with these curses."

Gojo, his brow furrowing with curiosity, asked, "What do you think is behind it?"

Hiro, his voice filled with a quiet anger, replied, "My father always kept my uncle in check, using his connections here. My uncle always wanted more and more power, to somehow govern the country. Unlike here in Japan, the United States government is unaware of sorcerers and curses. My uncle always wanted to reveal that and gain influence in the government, to create more powerful sorcerers. But as I said, my father never let him. But when he died, my uncle took all the power, and here we are, facing the consequences. I'm sure he and Hanzo have allied themselves with those curses."

Gojo nodded, his smile turning grim. "It seems we have a lot of work to do," he said, his voice filled with a quiet determination. "But first, you need to get stronger, Hiro. You're not going to let him humiliate you, are you?"

Hiro, his eyes blazing with a fierce resolve, said, "I'll make that bastard pay."

Gojo's smile widened, his eyes sparkling with pride and affection. "That's the spirit, my golden boy," he said, his voice filled with a warm encouragement.